Literal translation
to have/make eyes like a chestnut husk, like a goby
Meaning
to gawk wide-eyed, with a blank stare
Explanation
The expression combines two images drawn from nature to describe a round, fixed stare: bogo, the spiny husk of a chestnut, whose open shape suggests eyes stretched unnaturally wide, and gòbi, the goby or gudgeon, a small fish with bulging eyes and a rather blank expression. Agué or faire d'uei de bogo or de gòbi thus means opening one's eyes wide in astonishment, to the point of looking a bit foolish or lost, as if struck dumb by something unexpected. It describes an exaggerated, sometimes comic reaction of surprise, or mocks a blank, unintelligent stare that betrays confusion more than wonder. The register is familiar and teasing, common in everyday scenes where someone's dumbfounded look is sketched with humor. It again shows the Provençal habit of drawing on plants and sea creatures to paint facial expressions.